NATCHEZ — Tuesday evening, the Natchez Adams Girls Softball League celebrated a season full of change.

The league held its closing ceremonies at the Natchez Softball Complex, and handed out trophies to every player in the league.

It was a season like no other in the history of the league. For the first time, the league introduced fast pitch softball.

The 9-12-year old age group played fast pitch, while the 13-19-year old age group continued with slow pitch.

Natchez Adams Girls Softball League Board President Belinda Brashier said the season of fast pitch was difficult at first, but turned out to be a successful change.

“It was a learning experience for everyone,” Brashier said. “At first, the (pitchers) were kind of slow and high, but they got better as the year went on.”

One of those pitchers, 11-year-old Madison Newman, said she enjoyed playing fast pitch for the first time.

“I liked it better than slow pitch,” Newman said. “It was more exciting.”

Brashier said she was resistant to the change at first, because she was afraid not as many girls would play, but said those fears turned out to be unfounded.

“We’re a league that wants to include all girls,” Brashier said. “I was afraid that when you go to fast pitch, would the lesser talented girls still come out and play. But we had a great turnout and a lot of kids who returned from last year. We’re going to be fine.”

And Brashier said she hopes to incorporate fast pitch into the 13-19-year old division next season.

“It worked out well for the teams in the 9-12-year old age group,” she said. “I hope we can get fast pitch in every age group.”

While every player in the league received a trophy Tuesday night, there was one special award that was given out.

Chelsea Freeman, who plays in the 13-19-year old division, received the Riana Flynn Memorial Scholarship award, given to the player who has played in the league a long time and best represents the values of the league.

Freeman, a recent Adams County Christian graduate who will attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College in the fall, has played in the league since she was 7-years old and said she was honored to receive the award.

“It means a lot,” Freeman said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I’m just out here for the fun of it.”

Freeman said she has continued playing in the league for so many years because of the fun and friendships she has made.

“There’s always something fun going on,” Freeman said. “Everyone is really close. There’s never a dull moment.”